Overdue for a win, tough stayer Grand Pierro improved from a recent run of placings to capture the Listed VRC Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day to the great delight of his big team of owners.
Trained by Jason Warren and ridden by Zac Spain, Grand Pierro was a close last start second in the Listed Pakenham Cup and held that good form to win by three-quarters of a length.
Winner of the Listed Geelong Classic as a three year-old, Grand Pierro has the overall record of four wins and six placings from 27 starts with prizemoney topping $518,000 and Jason Warren will be targeting more staying features in the future.
“His last three runs have been full of merit and he’s taken a bit to get fit and he presented in great shape today,” said Jason Warren.
“The Bagot is a prestigious race and obviously a qualifying race for The Cup, so we’d like to take him to Adelaide and see how he runs the 3200m when we freshen and prepare him for that race.”
A $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Grand Syndicates / John Price Bloodstock from the Collingrove Stud draft, Grand Pierro is a half-brother to stakes-placed Indiscretion and is the best of five winners from six to race from Group III-placed Anabaa (USA) mare Le Societe, a half-sister to dual Group I winner Snazzytavi and daughter of stakes-winner Ritzy Lady.
Le Societe produced a colt by Bivouac last year and is now in foal to Toronado (IRE).
Grand Pierro is one of 38 stakes-winners for Pierro, who has 10 entries for Magic Millions.
